Advice wanted: Luang Prabang - Phonsavan - VV loop

Hi. My friend and I are planning a several day motorcycle trip this July from Luang Prabang across to Phonsavan, via Xaysomboune to Vang Vieng, then back up to Luang, and would be grateful for any advice about this route. We have both ridden in S.E.Asia before, but neither of us are particularly experienced riders. Would this route be manageable in July, and can anyone recommend it, or otherwise suggest an alternative?
Also, we will be hiring bikes in Luang Prabang, and i noticed that some people have mentioned in recent posts that it is possibly difficult at the moment to hire decent bikes here.... can anyone offer any tips on this?

follow up: having just read a little more about this Green Discovery company, i have been thinking perhaps we will start or end our trip in Vientiane and cop the transport fee.
also, can anyone who has done this or a similar trip advise on how much time we should allow (if we want to have time to occasionally stop and smell the flowers & drink the beerlao)

Getting descent bikes in LPQ is not so hard but why not get one from the right source with a little certainty of help in case of problems. Rent in VTE from Fuark, PVO or Green Discovery. Read more trip reports and the rental pages for Laos.

Have a look at http://board.gt-rider.com/topic.asp?TOP ... ,motocross for a description by Craypot of his trip from Vientiane via Tha Heua and Xaisomboun to Tha Viang and on to Phonsavan. In general you should not have big problems but much depends on the amount of rain as parts of the roads are dirt which may turn in mud and some river crossings could be difficult.

The other parts from Luang Phrabang to Phonsavan should not be a problem (Rd 13 and Rd 7 are all asphalt)